Actor Jimmy Jean-Louis was spotted in Paris last month with Kanye West when he told Ghana Web that he is shooting a new movie in which he will be playing Toussaint’L'Ouverture, the leader of the Haitian revolution.

The biographical movie on L’Ouverture is being filmed in Martinique and France. Jimmy plays the role of the 17th century revolutionary who led the Haitian independence from France and says it is the biggest role he has ever had to play.

L’Ouverture led the first successful slave revolt in world history by giving the imperialist armies led by Napolean Bonaparte their first defeat. The actions of L’Ouverture established the first black nation in the western hemisphere and the first free nation in it as well. He is noted for his military genius and political acumen which prepared the way for the creation of the independent black state of Haiti. The success of L’Ouverture and the Haitian Revolution shook the institution of slavery throughout the “new world” of the Americas.

The movie is being directed by Philippe Niang and will also have parts played by Aïssa Maïga, Sonia Rolland, Samuel Lebihan, Edouard Montoute and Hubert Koundé.

[via GhanaWeb]